Voucher Payment Standards

In the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, payment standards are utilized to determine the Housing Assistance Payments (HAPs), which the Housing Authority pays directly to the property owner on behalf of the tenant family.

These payment standards represent the maximum amount of monthly assistance the Housing Authority can provide for a household.

The applicable payment standard for a family is determined by selecting the lower of:

• The payment standard assigned to the family’s voucher based on their eligible unit size, or

• The payment standard corresponding to the actual size of the unit rented by the family.

Several additional considerations impact the final calculation of the Housing Assistance Payment, including the family's income and household size, the utility expenses that the family must cover, and prevailing rental rates for similar units in the area.

Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs) are Fair Market Rents (FMRs) determined specifically at the ZIP code level instead of the broader metropolitan area. SAFMRs aim to more precisely represent local housing markets, thus enabling families to afford rentals in neighborhoods characterized by lower poverty rates and better opportunities.

The rent amount requested by the landlord must be justified by rental prices of comparable units within the local market area. Regardless of unit location, the rental rate requested by the landlord cannot exceed the comparable rent as established by the Public Housing Authority (PHA).